Slime vs. full size spare

[7gen]

Any thoughts on using one of the fix-a-flat type kits (where you squirt some goop into a punctured tire, then fill with air after a puncture) as opposed to carrying a full-size spare? I have a 76 Eldorado convertible and the full size spare takes up a LOT of trunk space. I am going to be road-tripping and was considering my options. Not having a spare makes me nervous but I'm seeing more new vehicles coming out without a spare at all - just a flx-a-flat kit.

[dochawk]

My Miata came with that.

So when I got that once-familiar flat-tire feel, I pulled over and used it.

Nothing.

It seems that it all depends upon how your tire goes--mine suddenly lost everything, so the rims sliced the inner wall of the tire  to shreds . . .

If you really want the space in the trunk, I suppose you could find a continental kit . . .

[chrisntam]

I'm taking a spare.

My brother in law worked in a tire shop, he said those fix a flat products ruin the inside of the tire, but I suppose if you have a flat and don't want to change it, use the fix a flat.  You can buy a replacement tire for $100 or so if needed.

I'm taking a spare.

Didn't some eldos come with a space saver spare?

More importantly, where are you going?  How far and for how long?  That sounds like road trip fun!

[bcroe]

The day after I bought my first car without a real spare, I went out
and bought one.  Anything else is thrown out.  My cars have plenty of
room for a spare; I love to demonstrate that I can close the lid on all
5 mounted oversized tires.  I have NO PATIENCE for flats.  Bruce Roe

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Got to love the Space-saver with the size of these Convertibles trunks.

I use a Space-saver with my '72, but it hangs out the back, leaving me sufficient room for all the cases that the wife wants to pack.

Once I ran a puncture-sealing compound in the tyres on me 1937 Chev Hot Rod, (different sizes front and rear) and when I eventually had a major leak, it totally ruined the tyre.   When I pulled it off the rim, I couldn't believe the horrible mess that was in there.

As has been said, the pressurised sealants do work, but not when the tyre is punctures in excess of a simple nail hole.

In a lot of cases, when getting a blowout whilst driving the tyre is destroyed.

A simple slow leak would usually be noticed when checking the vehicle during a "walk-around" before driving off.

Bruce.

PS.   I keep a 12 volt compressor in a waterproof container positioned inside the spare wheel.   A good thing that the FWD wheels have a deep dish.

["Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364]

If you are looking for an Eldo space saving spare PM me or check out the classified section.
Greg Surfas

[7gen]

I like the idea of a space saving spare. It is a forty year old car, though - is the space saving spare also 40 years old? Specifically, is the rubber from 1976?

The road trip will be Route 66, side trips to Santa Fe, Mesa Verde, Arches National Park, Monument Valley, Sedona, Grand Canyon, Brice, Zion, the Pacific Coast Highway, Napa Valley, Yosemite, then home. We figure about 6000 miles give or take. Long ways to go without a spare tire.

["Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364]

Without knowing the specific material composition of the space saver it is a material and construction Farr different than a regular tire. Mine has never been on the road but I inflated it once. I also have not heard of ss failure because of age.
Greg Surfas

[TonyZappone #2624]

I ordered my '76 Eldo convert with a space saver.  I sold the car about ten years ago.  The young man that I sold it to called me about a year ago, and told me he had a flat tire, and used the original canister and that all worked well.

[TJ Hopland]

I have a 'doughnut' spare I got out of a 90 Buick wagon in my 73.   Its over 20 years old but I figure its better than being 40.   I used it once but only had to go a few miles.   I never thought about it before but it makes sense that spare specific tires would be made of different materials than regular tires because they will spend most of their lives in the trunk.   In the 70's and 80's were they planning on a car lasting more than 10 years?   Were they up to 20 in the 90's? 

A concern these days about 'our' cars is if you are able to limp in on a less than a proper matching the rest of the tires on the car spare will the tire shop in that town even have a 15" 75 series tire in stock?   Best you can hope for which isn't that common anymore is a 235 75 15 truck tire but even those are not always in stock anymore since the last trucks to have them were in the 90's. 

If I was driving cross country with only one classic car I think I would only do it with 5 matching tires.  My car has a trailer hitch so I could get one of those cargo racks or enclosed carriers if I needed more space.   

[cadillacmike68]

I keep spares in my cars. The DeVille and Fleetwood get full size ones (chrome wheel for the Fleetwood), while the CTS and STS get their factory aluminum wheel sort of compact spares. I rotate the full size ones. The CTS can only rotate the main tires and only front to back and the STS with its larger rear tires can take no rotation.

I did see an STS with the rear tires on the front last year in Tampa. 

I also keep 12V pumps in each car to pump up the tires, spares or the air shocks in the DeVille.